Wick for humidifiers



April 5, 1932. Q 1-; DUNN 1,852,004

wIcK FOR- HUMIDIFIERS Filed Nov. 16, 1928 I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE CLIFFORD. E. DUNN, OF SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY wIcK roza HUMIDIFIERS' Application filed November 16, 1928. Serial No. 319,991.

similar agency adapted to withdraw moisture or liquid of desired character from a reser- 5 vo1r and expose it to an absorbmg gaseous medium, as air.

The general object of the invention is to produce a Wick whose utility is dependent upon capillary attraction and. almost com-. plete exposure to an atmosphere; and which will be substantially immune from the ravages of attacking impurities or parasitic phenoniena in the medium wherein it is exposed."

A feature of the invention resides in the 5 chemical treatment afforded a wick whereby its utility and physical properties are preserved and prolonged in life, while its char-- acter as an absorbent and surface evaporative humidifier remains unaifected.

Wicks generally have long been employed to transfer liquids such as kerosene, especially for heating and lighting purposes. In the main, the greater part of the wick is usually confined inthe liquid or in the enclosed area holding the liquid and hence charged with the vapor therefrom. As a result, and because of the nature of its use, only a negligible portion of the wick is exposed to the air, and is rarely affected by deleterious action of organisms found in the atmosphere. Besides, the exposed portion is almost immediately charred after installation, and this reaction serves to immunize the exposed fibres.-

lVhere, however, a wick is used as a humidifier, its function is primarily dependent on exposure to the atmosphere, air usually being employed to absorb the moisture carried by the wick; Instead of a negligible edge being exposedto the air as in lamp wick use or the like, a very considerable bodyportion must be, presented for action by the air. Furthermore, it is desirable for best resultsthat every side of the wick be accessible to the air. In

view, also, of the use of water for humidification purposes, the wick is often subject to organisms and attacking impurities therein not found in oils or the'like ordinarily employed with wicks. It may be noted that an oleaginous base of itself often imparts protection from deterioration which water, or like liquid, can rarely, if ever, provide.

provide a wiclccapable of use in numerous different associations but vrimarlly to be .employed in connection with humidifiers and which wick will maintain its shape and not be subject to the attack of organisms.

A further feature resides in the provision of chemical treatment for a humidifier wick which is additionally designed to prevent corrosion of the container supporting the wick, assuming it to be of a substance liable to corrosive action.

Further features coverin advantages in application, economy, and utility of the chemical means employed, will be more fully understood from the following description read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an untreated wick which has been exposed to deleterious action of micro organisms in the fluid to which it is Thus, it is an object of the invention to subjected, and in the-surrounding atmosphere; 1

Fig. 2 shows a wick treated inaccordance with applicants invention after having been psed a length of time as long as the witk of Fig. 3 shows a treated wick within a supporting structure, the chemical agency serving to protect the contacting'walls of the support from corrosive action;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a 'humidifier in which the wick may be employed, and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the device shown in Fig.4. p

Considering all the figures simultaneously similar designations referring to similar parts, numeral 6 generally designates a humidifier having a reservoir portion 7, in-

tegral filler extension 8, filer spout 9, and cap 1-0. As illustrated, a liquid such as water may be fed within the device througluspout 9, and the liquid maintained at any "desired level. The extension suitably supporte I structure wherein barrel. *However, to

bacteria formations,

" provides a treatment-for the wick which 'from the usual causes,

designed to suit different requirements or engineering expediency. The formillustrated is merely indicative of one form of wicks, in accordance with the invention, may be employed.

Wick 12 is partiallyimmersed within the reservoir and extends within perforated barrel 11. The wick may entirely fill the barrel,

or if humidification requirements demand, may only partially extend therein. The degree of humidification will be dependent upon the length of perforated barrel structure and the size as well as length of wick ex posed to the atmosphere surrounding the limit. capillary attraction, adjusting screw 13 is shown.

The wick will draw moisture from the reservoir and the moisture will be absorbed by the medium surrounding the barrel. The moisture itself may contain impurities an organisms which will tend to attack thewick which is also subject to action Oxidation of these impurities, as well .as the usual germination processes results in molds, and resultant the wick fibres, cause growth which attack Figure .1

rot, and, in time, offensive odor. illustrates a rotted condition of a wic used for a period of time in a humidifier of the character described. The action of the air and water result d in rotting" and molding, which necessit ed removal of the wick. As is well known, the action of yeast plants in the air, and of vegetation,- causes chemical formation and reaction to take place which causes deleterious action and ravagingdeterioration.

ince exposure to the air is essential in humidifiers, such as for humidors and the like, and since the use of water for such purposes is well nigh indispensable, applicant ables its use at maximum efficiency and with substantial immunity from the defects heretofore encountered. Applicant first immerses his wick in a solution of lead acetate. A 10% solution is found-to give good results. The wickis next treated with a solution of alkaline potassium dichromate." As a result,'basic lead chromate is formed, the action occurring directly ment of basic lead chromate not only serves to preserve-the wick against deterioration but does not affect the apillary of the wick nor its usual physical characteristics. This process is also designed to protectthe barrel from corrosion.

by the air.

in the wick. The employ-' The wick may be designed to snugly fit in its supporting structure As a result the lead chromate is brought in contact with the interior of the support, and eflectively prev avents corrosion, if the substance is otherwise subjectedto corrosive action. For good results it may be noted that approximately every hundred grams of wick should contain about 10.44" grams of lead, as in the form of lead chromate. For different withpurposes, small ercentages of alcohol extract e used inithe reactions.

v wick 15 is snug within barrel .16, and since the wick retains its shape and physical qualities, contact will be maintained at all times. a The lead solution formed in thewick is substantially uniformly spread throughout the structure and does not affect the physical properties of the fibres nor their evaporative functions or Y absorbing qualities. In order to aid capillarity, the inside of the wick 17 maybe made ,of soft character of material, whereas the outer "cover may be of unit piece.

and other may As shown in F1g.3,

It is also found that the chemical woven fabric forming an integral.

reaction does not aifect the pliability of the wick strands and that their softness remains .unimpaired during continuous service and exposure .to the effects of the atmosphere and water having the usual impurities. While applicant produces his result by the react-ion specified, 1t ,is considered that any chemical changes producing an analogous result and the formation of lead chromate in combination with the scope of the invention.

It is to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention here n described, and allstateinents of thescopeof the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

aving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The proce ss of the deleterious action of micro-organisms consistingin combining lead chromate with the fibres of the wick.

2. Amethod of treating a wick consisting in immersing the wick in a solution of lead 1 acetate andlthen treating the wick' with an alkaline solution of potassium dichromate. Y

3. A wick of the character described having approximately ten grams of lead chromate in every one hundred'grams of wick. In testimony whereof I afiix my CLIFFORD E.

signature. DUNN.

immunizing" a wiclnfrom fibrous material, is within 7 

